Ant McPartlin ‘LEAVES I’m A Celebrity WhatsApp group’

Ant McPartlin has reportedly left the I’m A Celebrity WhatsApp group, as Phillip Schofield revealed he is focused on his ongoing recovery.

Speaking to The Mirror the 56-year-old This Morning frontman admitted Ant has been absent from the group chat they both share with Declan Donnelly and Holly Willoughby.

Phil told the publication that Ant hasn’t been chiming in with his views on the new series, as his main priority has been recovering ahead of returning to TV in 2019.

Break away: Ant McPartlin has reportedly left the I’m A Celebrity WhatsApp group, as Phillip Schofield revealed he is focused on his ongoing recovery

When Phil was asked whether Ant had shared any views on what he thought of this year’s series, he said: ‘I think Ant is concentrating on himself and so no we’re all letting him get well.’

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ant McPartlin for comment.

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Phil has spoken before about the group chat he and Ant share with Dec, and Holly this year after she stepped in to present the show.

Speaking at the launch of the Huawei StorySign app, he explained: ‘Both Ant and Dec and myself have also got a WhatsApp group for when they were out there.

‘It took Holly a day or two to settle in. I got the first WhatsApp from her on the group during a commercial break and thought ‘that’s it, she’s comfortable’.’

Time away: Speaking to The Mirror Phil admitted Ant has been absent from the group chat they both share with Declan Donnelly and Holly Willoughby

Ant revealed in August that he would be taking a break from presenting duties for the rest of 2018, following his drink-drive arrest in March.

This led to the announcement that Holly would be stepping in for Ant, and so far she has been received warmly by viewers.

And despite Ant’ break, I’m A Celebrity has been receiving its highest ratings ever this year, as 12.6 million fans tuned in to watch Holly’s first week.

New face: Ant has taken a break from hosting I’m A Celebrity this year following his drink-drive arrest, with Holly Willoughby stepping in alongside Declan Donnelly

While the ITV series has been running for 16 years with Ant and Dec, viewers appeared to have been pulled in by the new format, with the show managing a 47% share of viewing – the highest consolidated average ever for the series.

More than 1.8 million extra viewers have tuned in in comparison to last year’s series, whilst factoring online catch up brings the series average to 13.1 million viewers.

The series opener alone this year was watched by just over 14 million people, giving the show its highest rating since the third series in 2004.

Legendary: Before his hiatus Ant and Dec had hosted the primetime favourite for 16 years